SEEKING HELP TO DEAL WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Dear June: My mother-in-law is a wonderful woman who has multiple sclerosis. She lives in New Jersey and her family is all in Florida. She would love to move to Florida to be with her children, but there is one thing that is stopping her: insurance. In New Jersey there is a state program called P.A.D. It pays for her medications, which cost $1,200 a month. So far, I have not been able to find any such program in the state of Florida. Because of her IRA and savings account she is not eligible for Medicaid and is too young for Medicare. She is on disability, which is approximately $700 a month. My husband and I are more than willing to take her in with us and help out in any way we can. Unfortunately we can't afford the medications, either. I'm sure that there are people in Florida with MS that are not able to afford those kinds of bills. What do they do? -- Hopeful in Florida

Dear Hopeful: I'm sorry that you and your husband are going through this trying time. It is wonderful to see that you are sticking by her, however. It's not every day that daughters and mothers-in-law have a good relationship. My advice to you regarding the multiple sclerosis is to contact the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Their phone number is 800-344-4867 and their Web address is www.nmss.org if you'd like to visit their site. I wish you the best and the information will be of benefit to you and your family.

Dear June: My friend has mood swings. One day she's up and the next day she's down. It's nerve-racking, but I don't know what to do about it. I've mentioned it to her a couple of times and she just says, "Girl, I know it." How am I supposed to deal with this when I see her almost daily? -- Annoyed in Lauderhill

Dear Annoyed: She knows she has these mood swings. You know she has these mood swings, so it's not a surprise. When she's in her better mood, then you talk with her. When she's in her annoying mood, then you simply don't deal with her. She'll eventually pick up your behavior. Then she'll realize if she wants to associate with you, she can't take out her frustrations on you.

June Hall appears every Thursday and Saturday. You can send her e-mail at advice@mediaone.net or write to her c/o P.O. Box 17362, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33318. Please include a daytime phone number for verification.